strangle
verb
stran·gle ˈstraŋ-gəl 
strangled; strangling ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)liŋ
transitive verb
1
a
: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (such as a hand or rope) : throttle
b
: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of
c
: stifle
2
: to suppress or hinder the rise, expression, or growth of
repression strangles free speech
intransitive verb
1
: to become strangled
2
: to die from or as if from interference with breathing
strangler
ˈstraŋ-g(ə-)lər
noun 
Synonyms
- choke
- smother
- stifle
- suffocate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The weeds are strangling the plant. The company is trying to strangle the smaller competition.
Recent Examples on the Web To strangle a 302-cubic-inch motor down to a sickly 134 horsepower is an amazing—but embarrassing—feat of modern technology. 
Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2022 He was sentenced in 2018 to three to 13 years in prison for fleeing a Harrison County sheriff’s deputy and trying to strangle him during a scuffle. John Raby, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Earlier this year Russia launched the bloodiest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, and this summer China publicly displayed plans to strangle or swallow the free people of Taiwan. Roger Zakheim, WSJ, 28 Aug. 2022 During a search of the men’s apartment, police found several cords that could have been used to strangle Jorge. Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2022 In 2021, the actor was arrested after allegedly trying to strangle his then-girlfriend. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Investigators determined that Blanco used a power cord to strangle Pacheco. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022 The rope used to strangle and kill her was still around her neck, and police say her footprints were on the inside of the windshield. Olivia Jakiel, PEOPLE.com, 12 July 2022 The rope used to strangle her was still around her neck, according to the district attorney's office. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 12 July 2022 See More
Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2022 He was sentenced in 2018 to three to 13 years in prison for fleeing a Harrison County sheriff’s deputy and trying to strangle him during a scuffle. John Raby, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Earlier this year Russia launched the bloodiest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, and this summer China publicly displayed plans to strangle or swallow the free people of Taiwan. Roger Zakheim, WSJ, 28 Aug. 2022 During a search of the men’s apartment, police found several cords that could have been used to strangle Jorge. Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2022 In 2021, the actor was arrested after allegedly trying to strangle his then-girlfriend. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Investigators determined that Blanco used a power cord to strangle Pacheco. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022 The rope used to strangle and kill her was still around her neck, and police say her footprints were on the inside of the windshield. Olivia Jakiel, PEOPLE.com, 12 July 2022 The rope used to strangle her was still around her neck, according to the district attorney's office. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 12 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangler, from Latin strangulare, from Greek strangalan, from strangalē halter — more at strain
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Kids Definition
strangle
verb
stran·gle ˈstraŋ-gəl
strangled; strangling
1
: to choke to death by squeezing the throat
2
: to die or suffer from or as if from being choked
Medical Definition
strangle
verb
stran·gle ˈstraŋ-gəl
strangled; strangling -g(ə-)liŋ
transitive verb
1
: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope)
2
: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of
the bone wedged in his throat and strangled him
intransitive verb
1
: to become strangled : undergo a severe interference with breathing
2
: to die from interference with breathing
strangling
verb
1
as in choking
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air the gull got tangled in a piece of fishing line on the beach and was strangled Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- choking
- suffocating
- drowning
- smothering
- stifling
- destroying
- asphyxiating
- throttling
- slaying
- garroting
- garotting
- dispatching
- felling
- croaking
- doing in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- breathing
- inhaling
- expiring
- reviving
- inspiring
- exhaling
- resuscitating
2
as in suffocating
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe the boy complained that he was being strangled by his tie Synonyms & Similar Words
- choking
- suffocating
- throttling
- garroting
- asphyxiating
- smothering
- stifling
- garotting
- scragging
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reviving
- restoring
- resuscitating
3
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news Synonyms & Similar Words
- stifling
- suppressing
- swallowing
- smothering
- repressing
- controlling
- submerging
- managing
- containing
- sinking
- holding back
- pocketing
- curbing
- governing
- choking (back)
- quashing
- bridling
- quelling
- checking
- muffling
- squelching
- bottling up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expressing
- releasing
- unleashing
- venting
- taking out
- loosing